Final farewell to brave 11-year-old Montana Kibble from Herne Bay

Published: 00:01, 17 July 2015

A family has said a heartbreaking goodbye to a little girl who touched the hearts of thousands.

Montana Kibble contracted pneumococcal meningitis as a baby, causing a severe brain injury which left her disabled and terminally ill.

She was adopted at eight-months-old by Debbie and Adrian Kibble, who looked after her at their home in Clifftown Gardens in Hampton until her death, aged 11, on June 30.

In April, her foster sister Natasha Kibble had launched a fundraising campaign which prompted large public donations to buy a special Airvo 2 breathing machine to allow Montana to die at home with dignity.

She was taken on her final journey in a horse-drawn carriage from the family home to Barham Crematorium by Woollard and Kent Funeral Services.

Debbie had previously said: “We all loved her so much. She was at home surrounded by her family, which was important to her.

“We want to thank everybody that she was able to spend her last weeks at home.

“Montana could respond to things and was aware. She liked music and people. She had dimples when she smiled and her whole face would light up when she saw people she knew.”

Montana had a progressive condition which had spread to her lungs, causing her breathing and sleeping difficulties and leaving her too weak to travel to hospital.

The horse-drawn carriage and funeral service were organised by Natasha. She said: “It’s just an amazing send-off for her as she was such an amazing little girl.

“What a fight she put up. This was her special day just to say goodbye. There were bright lights, lots of flowers and lots of people came for her final journey.